Halcon House

Updated 2 March 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 9 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service a day's notice of the inspection.

Updated 2 March 2022

About the service

Halcon House is a residential care home registered to provide personal care to 18 people at any time. The service specialises in providing long term and respite care to people with complex physical disabilities. The home is a single storey building with level access to all areas.

At the time of the inspection 11 people were living at the home and 7 people were receiving respite care. Throughout the year approximately 50 people used the service for respite breaks.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Since the last inspection the provider had maintained the high standards of care and support people received and constantly looked for ways to introduce further improvements. This had included embracing technology to promote people’s independence and addressing issues raised by people and staff.

People’s feedback about the service and the way it was managed was, without exception, extremely positive. Comments included; “In eight years I’ve never lived anywhere like it. They don’t just do personal care, it’s so much more than that. I love it,” “It’s still as outstanding as it always was, probably even better” and “I wouldn’t go anywhere else. [Registered manager’s name] makes it special.”

Visitors also unanimously praised the service provided. One visitor said, “You couldn’t find better care anywhere. Staff don’t just come here to do a job, it’s a diamond service.” Another visitor told us, “It’s opened a whole new life for [person’s name]. If they can do it, they will. [Registered manager’s name] can’t do enough for us all, day or night. His passion is totally inspiring.”

Although people using the service were living with complex physical health needs and disabilities staff had a ‘can do’ attitude which enabled people to have a good quality of life. People were able to continue to take part in hobbies and had access to a wide range of leisure pursuits. This included holidays in Britain and abroad.

Staff were happy in their jobs which created a happy atmosphere for people. Throughout the inspection there was laughter and good-humoured banter. People’s friends and families were considered a large and important part of people’s lives. Friends and family were always included in events and day to day care if they chose to be. People who used Halcon House for respite and family members said they thought of it as their ‘Second home.’

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People remained in control of the care and support they received and were consulted on all aspects of their lives. People told us that staff respected them as individuals and always respected their wishes.

People received their care from staff who had an excellent knowledge of their needs and had the skills required to effectively support them. Staffing levels and training were responsive to people’s changing and complex needs.

People were cared for by a consistent staff team who they had built trusting relationships with. One person told us, “I don’t feel I am being looked after, I just feel at home.” Another person told us, “Their kindness and empathy is beyond anything I could have expected. The staff have become friends.”

People could be confident at the end of their lives they would be cared for with compassion and their wishes and values would be respected. People’s families and friends were fully supported by staff at times of bereavement.

The registered manager and senior staff team led by example to ensure high standards of care were provided to people. Staff worked in a way that was non-judgemental and respected people as individuals. Staff valued people’s opinions and took action to put people’s suggestions into practice.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Outstanding (published 25 July 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.